Forage blower



May 11, 1954 s. c. HETH ETAL 2,678,239

FORAGE BLOWER Filed July l, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Cttorneg 75g/MM@ May11, 1954 s'. c. HETH ET AL 2,678,239

FORAGE BLOWER Filed July l, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttorneg May l1, 1954s. c. HETH ET AL FORAGE BLOWER 5 sheetsgsheet s Filed July l, 19

Gttorneg May 11, 1954 s. c. HETH ET Al.

FORAGE BLOWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July l 1950 mfr m .JKM G M 0. .13'www May 1l, 1954 s. c. HETH ET Al.

` FORAGE BLOWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1. 195o Gttorneg PatentedMay 1l, 1954 FORAGE BLOWER 'Sherman C. Heth and Howard E. Wiltsey,Racine, Wis., assignors to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application July 1, 1950, Serial No. 171,682

13 Claims.

This invention relates to ensilage blowers and an ,object thereof is togenerally improve the 'operation and construction of such machines.

It is now common practice to harvest corn and other crop material bymeans of a harvester which travels over the field and harvests the crop,at the same time cutting it into short lengths for storing as ensilage.If the material is to be stored in the conventional silo it is necessaryto provide for elevating it intorthe same. Unlike the ordinary siloiiller, which takes the crop in long lengths, as cut from the field,comminutes it and projects it by a combined throwing and blowing action,upwardly into the silo, which may be as much as '75 feet high, thedevice of the present invention must work on material which is alreadycomminuted when received at the silo, and which fact introduces problemsof receiving, feeding, regulation etc. which are solved in a novelmanner by the expediente set forth in the following disclosure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ensilage bloweremploying a simplied driving means whereby the speed of travel of thefeed conveyor may be varied to regulate the flow of material to behandled by the blower fan.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an ensilage bloweremploying an improved fan wheel wherein the material will be acceptedinto the fan wheel at an area of relatively low velocity and graduallyaccelerated until it is thrown out the discharge port.

Still another object of this invention is to pro- Vide an ensilageblower embodying a frame, a blower mounted on the frame, and a feedhopper pivotally secured to the frame forwardly of the blower, whereby acompact structure can be had, convenient to move from one place toanother and one which will occupy a nominal amount of space when instorage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a blower which iscapable of being easily and cheaply manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent byreference to the following description, and the accompanying drawings ofa preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of a forage blower embodying thepresent invention shown in an operative position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the forage blower disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the main frame of the machine disclosedin Fig. 1 showing the drawbar construction and the wheel supportingconstruction.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1slightly enlarged and withl parts removed showing details inconstruction of the blower housing, the speed regulating means, and thereceiving trough.

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1slightly enlarged and with parts removed showing the machine positionedfor transport and attached to a tractor.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. 5, with parts cutaway to show details in construction.

Fig. '7 is a plan view slightly enlarged of the machine shown in Fig. 2,with parts removed showing the juncture of the conveying trough with thereceiving trough when the machine is in an operating position, brokenaway to show details in construction.

Fig. 8 Iis a perspective view of the construction for pivotallyconnecting the receiving trough to the conveying trough, slightlyenlarged, and with parts removed.

Fig. 9 is a rear View slightly enlarged of the forage blower with partsremoved.

Fig. l0 is a front view of the blower fan shown in Fig. 4 showingdetails and construction, and with parts removed.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on the line I l-II of the Fig. 10 slightlyenlarged.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the beater shown in Fig. 4 slightly enlargedand having a portion removed to show details in construction.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the beater shown in Fig. 12 having a portionremoved to show details in construction.

Fig. 14 is a view taken on the line lll-i4 of Fig. l5 to be describedpresently, showing details in construction, with parts removed.

Fig. l5 is a horizontal sector, slightly enlarged, taken on the lineiii-I5 of Fig. 2 with parts removed showing details in construction.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings a forage blowerembodying the present invention comprises generally a feed hopper I6carried on a main frame i8 and extending forwardly therefrom. Rearwardlythe feed hopper I6 connects `with a blower housing 20 as at a feederopening 22. The feed hopper I6 is provided with an endless conveyor 24which carries Y the cut material rearwardly to the feeder opening 22.The blower housing 20 has rotatably supported therein a blower fan 26secured on a central shaft 28 protruding rearwardly of the blowerhousing 28. A belt pulley 38 is secured on the rearward end of the shaft28 and is connected to an outside power source, of any suitable type, asby a suitable belt 3 l. The conveyor 24 is driven by a sprocketed feederroll 32 which in turn is operatively connected to the shaft 28 by aspeed regulating means 34 including in the present instance an enclosedworm gear reduction power transmission means 36. A feed control beater38 is rotatably secured adjacent the feeder opening 22 and isoperatively associated with the sprocketed feeder roll 32 for regulatingthe stream of material entering the blower housing 20. The frame I'8 iscarried by transport wheels 48, the wheels 48 being adapted to be easilyremoved as will appear, allowing the frame I8 to rest upon the groundand thereby lower the ensilage blower in relation to a dump truck ortrailer, which devices are commonly used for transporting the ensilagefrom the eld to the blower, for filling the silo or place of storage. Adrawbar 42 is secured with the frame I8 and adapted to be hitched to apropelling agency, as for example a tractor 43 for transporting themachine, the feed hopper i6 being upwardly pivoted, thereby providing acompact structure easily transported.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the frame I8, in the present instance,comprises a pair of angle bars 44 bent into U-shaped frames and joined,as by welding or the like, end to end as at 46 forming thereby asubstantially rigid rectangular framework 48. A transverse angle bar oraxle 58, positioned across the rectangular framework as shown, issecured on the upper surface of the sides of the frame 48 as by weldingor the like substantially parallel to the ends thereof. For supportingthe framework 48 on the transport wheels 40, apertured end brackets 52are secured as by welding or the like to the ends of the angle bar 58and to the lateral surfaces 0f the framework 48. The end brackets 52have formed therein holes 54 for reception of spindles 56 of thetransport wheels 46, the circumference of said holes being substantiallytangent to the sides, of the angle bar 50. As can be seen, when thespindles 56 are inserted into the holes 54, the peripheries of thespindles 56 are frictional- 1y adjacent the sides of the angle bar 50when the wheels 48 are substantially normal to the horizontal as intransport position. The spindles 56 are maintained in their properco-axial position with respect to the frame I8 by means of anglebrackets 58. The angle brackets 58 are secured as by welding or the liketo the angle bar 58 inwardly of the end brackets 52 and form with theangle bar 50 enclosed squares or box like sockets, the inner surfaces ofsaid squares maintaining the spindles 55 against any movement other thanaxial movement inwardly or outwardly therethrough. The spindles 56 aresecured within the enclosed squares by means of bolts 60, engaged insuitable holes in the brackets 58 and spindles 56, and as can be readilyseen, the wheels 40 can be readily removed upon removal of the bolts 60by sliding the spindles 56 out of the brackets 52 and 58. In this mannerthe wheels are easily disposed of when not needed, and without exposingto dirt the lubricated surfaces of the spindles and wheels. A transversechannel bar 62, substantially parallel to the angle bar 58, is securedas by welding or the like on the upper surface of the lateral sides ofthe framework 48. The channel bar 62 has formed therein an opening 64for reception of above mentioned drawbar 42. Forwardly the drawbar 42 isaccommodated in an opening E8 formed in a bracket 68 which is secured asby welding or the like to the framework 48 so as to support the drawbar42 in a plane substantially parallel to the horizontal and extending inthe direction of travel of the blower. The drawbar 42 is removablysecured in position by a bolt I8 secured through the end of the drawbar42 and a slidable collar 12, and a limit stop 'I4 secured on the drawbar42 adjacent the forward surface of the bracket 68 as by a bolt 15. Itwill now be apparent that, upon removal of the bolt 1D, the drawbar 42can be easily removed from the bracket 88 and the channel bar 62 so thatduring operation of this blower while the feed hopper is pivotedupwardly for a dump truck or other conveying means to be positioned fordischarge into the feed hopper I6 without necessitating the dump truckto be driven backwardly, as` will be explained hereinafter, the drawbarwill not impede the passage of the conveying means.

Drawbar 42 may be retracted if desired, rather than removed, bolt 'I5being alternatively insertible in holes as 'I5a so that limit stop 'I4may be positioned as shown in Fig. 3 for transport, or as shown in Fig.4 for operation, in the latter case, drawbar 42 being slidable somewhatfurther to the rear than shown in Fig. 4. With drawbar 42 in suchposition, clearance is provided for trucks to pass when the hopper I6 israised to the position of Fig. 5. In this way the advantage of removingthe drawbar is realized without the danger of its becoming lost ormislaid.

Rigidly mounted on the rearward upper portion of the frame I8 is theblower housing 20, see Figs. 4 and 6. The blower housing 20 is providedwith a tangentially extending outlet or port I6 to which is adapted tobe connected conventional blower pipes, not shown in the drawings, forconveying the material into a silo or other like storage place. Theforward face of the blower housing 20 has formed therein the feeder opening 22 located substantially in the center of the forward face of theblower housing 20 so that the material conveyed into the blower housingis delivered substantially into the center of the fan wheel 26 in anarea of relatively low velocity, and discharged out the port I6 as willbe explained more fully hereinafter.

The feed hopper i6 comprises a conveying trough 'I8 and a receivingtrough 88 pivotally secured to the conveying trough 18 and extendingforwardly therefrom. The conveying trough I8 in the present instance,comprises a frame 82 and side members 84 formed of light gage steelsheets or similar material secured to said frame 82 as by rivets or thelike and secured rearwardly to the forward face of the blower housing20, enclosing the sides of the feeder opening 22. The frame 82 includesforwardly extending parallel members 86 and 88. The frame members 86 and88 are carried rearwardly between upwardly extending support bars 90 and92 as by bolts or the like 94 and forwardly between brackets 96 as bybolts or the like 98 see Figs. l and 5. The members 88 extend upwardlyand rearwardly toward the feeder opening 22 of the blower housing 28while the members B6 are substantially horizontal. The support bars 90and 92 are secured to the angle bar 50 as by welding and braced againstexcessive vibration of the conveying trough 18 when the blower is inoperation by braces |00 secured between the bars 90 and 92 and the frameI8.

For pivotally securing the receiving trough 00 to the forward end of theconveying trough '|2,v

opposed plates |02 and |04, Fig. 8, are secured adjacent the forwardends of the frame members 86 and 88 as by bolts 98. Forwardly the piates|02 extend laterally and forwardly for reception of pivot plates |06 ofthe trough 80 between these plates and plates |04. The pivot plates i 06which, as will appear, are secured to the receiving trough 80, arepivotally secured between plates 02 and |04 as by pins |08 or the likeretained therein as by washer and lock means I i6.

The receiving trough in the present instance comprises a frame I2 madeup of forwardly extending members |4 and I I6 secured as by welding orthe like to ribs liti, |25 and |22 (see Figs.

l, 2, 14 and l5). Side members |24, preferably formed of light gagesteel sheets or similar material, are secured to the framework |12 as byrivets or the like so as te form thereby a troughlike structure forreception of the out ensilage. The rib |22 as disclosed in the drawings,is positioned forwardly on the receiving trough and has Y downwardlyextending legs 26 and |23 braced by a member for supporting the forwardportion of the receiving trough from the conveying trough when theensilage blower is in operation. As can be easily appreciated a hopperconstructed as disclosed is rigid and not prone to twisting or torsionalbending.

As previously suggested the receiving trough 80 is pivotally secured tothe conveying trough T8 whereby a compact structure can be hadconvenient to move from one place to another when the wheels 40 are inposition, and one which will occupy a minimum amount of space when instorage. The pivot plates I 66 as already suggested are secured to therespective ends of the frame members 4 and H6, as by bolt means |32pivotally securing the receiving hopper 80 about the pivot bolts |08. Toprovide a definite upper position of the trough 80 about the pivot bolts|08, bolts |34 (see Figs. 4 and 5) are secured as by a washer and lockmeans |35 in slots |38 of slotted guide arms |45 which are pivotallysecured adjacent their rearward ends on each side of the trough 80 toears |42 which in turn are welded or otherwise secured to the brackets06. As can be seen, when the trough 80 is pivoted upwardly about thepivot bolts |08, the bolts |34 slide upwardly in the slots |38 of theguide arms |46, the guide arms defining the limits of the arc of upwardmovement of the trough 80 about the pivot bolts |08 and preventingbending of the sides of the troughs 'I0 and 80 by reason of excessivemovement.

'I'he rearward extremities of the side members 24 are arranged to tbetween the side members 84 so that when the trough 00 is pivotedupwardly the side members |24 will be accommodated between and withinthe side members 84 of the trough 18. When the wheels 40 are removed andthe frame i8 is supported upon the ground, the trough 80 is maintainedsubstantially horizontal to the ground by the down-v wardly extendinglegs |26 and |28 of the frame rib |22 as previously suggested. When thetrough is maintained in this position the side members |24 and 84 formcontiguous surfaces assuring thereby against the loss of ensilage or theclogging of material between the joining surfaces |24 and 34 (see alsoFig. 7).

To aid in pivoting the trough 8e about the pivot bolts |08,counterbalance means |44, as best seen in Fig. 1, are provided betweenthe trough and the trough 18. The counterbalance means |44 comprisesprings |46 secured one on each side of the feed hopper I6 by eye bolts|48. which are secured to the frame rib |20, and eye rods |50, which aresecured rearwardly as by a bolt or the like to laterally extendingbrackets |52. The brackets |52 are secured to the plates |02 as bywelding or the like and extend laterally therefrom substantially normalto the plates |02 (see also Fig. 8). Brace supports |54 and |56 supportthe brackets |52 against the forces exerted by the springs |46. Bypulling on the pivot points 5| which are upwardly displaced from pivotsI 08 the counterbalance means |44 lightens the weight of the trough 80about the pivot bolts |08y and permits one person to pivot the trough 80to any desired position. A chain means |58 is adaptable to secure thetrough 80 in its raised position when the user wishes to transport orstore the machine.

Floor members |60 and |62 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 14), are secured by meansof rivets or the like to the frame members ||4 of the trough 80 and tothe frame members B8 ofthe conveying trough 18 respectively, formingthereby with the side members |24 and 84 respectively a receptacle forreception of ensilage or similar material. For conveying the ensilagerearwardly into the feeder opening 22 of the blower housing 20, theendless conveyor 24, comprising chains |64 and raddles 56 securedtransversely between the chains |64 at spaced intervals thereon, isdriven rearwardly around the oor members |60 and |52 by the sprocketedfeeder roll 32 rotatably secured rearwardly of the rearward end of thefloor member |62. Forwardly the chain |64 is supported around sprockets|68 on a shaft |10 secured rotatably between forwardly extending arms|'|2 of the frame rib |22 (see Fig. l5). As can be easily seen, when thesprocketed feeder roll 32 is rotated clockwise, Fig. 4, the conveyor 24above the member |60 and |62 is moved rearwardly toward the feederopening 22, chain |64 intermeshing with the teeth of the sprocketedfeeder roll 32 and the sprockets |58. For maintaining the raddles |66 inintimate contact with the floor members |60 and |62, particularly at thejuncture of the floor members when the machine is in operation forconveying the ensilage from the feed hopper I6 into the blower housing20, arms |14 (see also Figs. 1 and 4) are secured to the frame members86 and 88 of the trough 13 and extend upwardly, and provided adjacenttheir upper ends with bent guide shoes |15. As will be apparent, thechains |64 run between the guide shoes |16 and the floor member |62keeping thereby the raddles 66 in close relationship with the fioormembers |62 and |60 at all times when the blower is in operation or intransport position,

As has already been suggested the sprocketed feeder roll shaft 32 isoperatively connected with the shaft 28 by the speed regulating means 34and the worm reduction gear 36. As should be clear, by regulating thespeed at which the feeder shaft is driven, it is possible to regulatethe amount of ensilage carried rearwardly into the feeder opening 22,the speed of the blower fan 26 remaining constant. In the standardensilage blower the usual arrangement is to provide a driven pulleyshaft on which the blower fan is carried, and then. by means of asprocket wheel and chain and through a countershaft, to deliver power toa large sprocket wheel that serves to drive an enclosed gear mechanism,which in turn drives' a shaft that is connected to the speed 7regulating shaft, various sizes of sprocket wheels being brought intoplay to change the speeds. One of the salient features of this inventionis to yprovide a variable V-belt pulley on the blower shaft andconnected by means of a V-belt to another pulley which transmits themotion of the blower shaft to the sprocketed feeder roll 32 by means ofthe worm reduction gearing 36 providing thereby a simple, convenient andquiet means for regulating the feed of the conveyor 24 independently ofthe speed of the blower fan.

These objects of the invention are accomplished by providing asupplementary frame |18, composed in the present instance, of angle barssecured to the rearward face of the blower housing 20 and extendingrearwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5,6 and 9). Cantilevers |88 and brace rods |82 support the rearwardextremities of the frame |18 with respect to any undue force or thrustexerted thereupon. The shaft 28 is rotatably secured in conventionalantifriction bearings which bearings are generally designated as |84which in turn are secured as by bolts or the like to the ends of theframe |18. The forward end of the shaft 28 as previously suggested isextended forwardly into the blower housing 28 through a hole |86 formedtherein and has keyed thereon the blower fan 26 which is rotatablewithin the blower housing 28. Rearwardly the shaft 28 has fixed thereonas previously suggested the belt pulley 30 which is adapted to beconnected to an outside power source as by belt 3| or the like, thisoutside source transmitting rotary motion to the shaft 28 and the blowerfan 26. Rotatably se cured to the shaft 28 intermediate the blower fan'26 and the belt pulley 38 is a Variable V-belt pulley |88 which isconnected to a V-pulley |90 as by a V-belt |82. The pulley |90 isnonrotatably secured to a shaft |94 which is rotatably supported on anarm |88 extending laterally from the rearward end of a holding bracket200 as by a suitable bearing |88 Fig. 2. The holding bracket 200 issecured to the periphery of the blower housing 20 substantially normalthereto by any suitable means. The sprocketed feeder' roll shaft 32extends laterally from the receiving trough 18 toward a hole 202 formedin the holding bracket 209. The transmission means 35 can be of anyconventional or suitable construction including in the present instancea worm 204 Fig. 5 and a gear wheel 206 in mesh with the worm 204 bothbeing enclosed in a housing 208 which in turn is secured to said holdingbracket 208 as by bolts or the like. The gear wheel 208 is provided withan inwardly extending shaft 2|0 rotatably mounted in a bearing '2|2 Fig.6, fitted in the hole 202 of the bracket 200. The sprocketed feeder roll32 and the shaft 2|0 are coupled one to the other by means of a suitablecoupling 2 I4 which coupling accommodates any slight misalignment'of theshafts 32 and 2 0 and which tends to absorb shocks and vibrations of therespective parts when the machine is in operation. The pulley |90transmits the rotary motion of the shaft 28 to the shaft |94 which inturn is flexibly connected to the worm gear 204 by means of a suitablecoupling 2|6.

As can be seen, when the shaft 28 is rotated by the belt pulley 30, alike rotative motion is imparted to the variable V-belt pulley |88 whichin turn transmits this rotary motion to the shaft |94 by means of theV-belt |82 and the V-pulley |90. The rotary motion of the shaft |94 istransmitted to the shaft 2|0 by means of the worm gear reduction system3B which in turn imparts a rotative motion to the sprocketed feeder roll32 by means of the coupling 2|4.

By making the pulley |88 in a manner to have a variable effectivediameter with respect to belt |92 the velocity imparted to the pulley|90 by the V-belt |92 can be varied in respect to the velocity of theshaft 28 thereby providing an easy means for regulating the speed of theconveying means 24. The pulley, as best seen in Fig. 4, comprisesflanges2|8 and 220, the flange 220 being fixed to the shaft 28 and securedthereto as far as movement is concerned by bolt means 222, and theflange '2|8 being axially slidable but non-rotatable on the shaft 28adjacent to and in working relation with flange 220 as previouslysuggested. For regulating the axial movement of the movable flange 2|8with respect to the xed flange 220 for regulating the rate of travel ofthe conveyor 24, a shifting means 224 is provided. The shifting means224 comprises a forked arm 226 pivotally secured as by a pivot or thelike 228 to arms 230 extending from the v frame |18. The forked arm 226extends upwardly straddling a shifting ring 232, and pivoted to theperiphery thereof as by trunnions or the like 234 (see also Fig. 9). Theshift ring 232 comprises a flanged housing 236 rotatably secured on ahub portion 238 of the slidable flange 2 8 by means of an anti-frictionbearing 240 fitted between the flange of the housing 236 and the hubportion 238, an inner race 242 being tted on the hub portion 238, and anouter race 244 being press fitted within the flange of the housing 236.As can be seen, when the flange 2|8 is rotated, the inner race 242rotates a like amount in the same direction, the outer race 244remaining non-rotatable with the housing 236. By pivoting the shiftingarm 226 either forwardly or rearwardly about the pivot 228, the

shifting ring 232 is shifted axially, imparting a pushing or pullingforce to the hub portion ||5 of the flange 2|8 thereby shifting itaxially and increasing or decreasing the pitch of the pulley |88 andregulating the speed of the V-belt |92. Since flange 220 remains axiallyinmovable on shaft 28, shifting of flange '2|8 results in narrowing orwidening the resulting V-groove b etween the flanges and, since thewidth of belt 98 remains constant, it runs correspondingly further from,or nearer to the center of the pulley and shaft 28, or, in other wordsat 'a greater or lesser pitch diameter, as the case may be.

To provide an idler whereby the travel of the conveyor 24 may be stoppedwithout stopping the rotation of the blower fan 26, a conventionalanti-friction bearing 246 is positioned on the shaft 28 adjacent theinner surface ofthe fixed flange 220 accommodated by a cuppedportion 248of the flange 2|8. The bearing 246 cornprises a customary inner race250, an outer race 252, and anti-friction elements 254 confinedtherebetween. As can be seen when the pitch diameter of the pulley |88is decreased to such an extent that the V-belt comes to rest upon theouter race 252 of the bearing '246, the travel of the V-belt |92 isstopped, the outer race 252 coming to rest with respect to the innerrace 258.

As will be clear, the pressure of the V-belt |92 upon the inner surfaceof the flange 2| 8 exerts a constant pressure against the forked arm 226tending to pivot the arm rearwardly about the pivot 228, when the bloweris in operation.

For maintaining or adjusting the pivotal move- 9 nient of the forked arm226 for maintaining or adjusting the pitch diameter of the pulley |88, aclutch or control lever 256 is provided, pivoted at its lower end as bya pin, bolt or the like 258 to an upstanding bracket 260 secured as bywelding or the like to the blower housing 26, a link generallydesignated as 262 is pivoted at 263 to the upper extremity of forked armV226 and at 2636 to control lever 266 at a point spaced from abovementioned pivot 258 so that when clutch lever 256 is pivoted eitherforwardly or rearwardly the forked arm 226 will be pivoted in the samedirection. The bracket 266 has formed therein a slot 264, Fig. 6, lyingin the path of travel of the link 262 so that the link will pass intothe slot when the lever 256 is pivoted forwardly and downwardly. Thisrepresents the extreme forward travel of the lever 256 and slot 264 ismade just deep enough to serve as a limit stop for such forward anddownward travel of link 262 and accordingly lever 256 although otherstop means is considered as within the contemplation of the invention.When lever 256 is so positioned, link 262 will pull on the arm 226thereby pivoting the same forwardly and consequently sliding flange 2|8axially forward and engaging V-belt |62 with the sides of they flanges220 and 2|8. This starts the conveying mechanism 24 as will be apparent.The depth of slot 264 is such that in this position of the parts pivot263a will have traveled beyond the extension of a line through pivots263 and 258. The continued pull on link 256 exerted by arm 226 will,therefore, tend to swing lever 256 in a counterclockwise direction asseen in Fig. 4 and, since further movement is prevented by engagement oflink 262 with the lower extremity of slot 264, the parts are locked inposition until intentionally dislodged. In this manner the pitchdiameter of pulley |88 is maintained at a predetermined value.

Y shortening the assemblage which thus acts as a turn buckle, forincreasing or decreasingthe length of the link 262. When the blower isin operation the clutch lever .256 is pivoted forwardly so as to restthe link 262 in the slot 264 manipulating the turn buckle portion 266before `re-engageinent of the link 262 in the slot 264.

As previously mentioned the link 262 can be furf ther adjusted when thelink 262 is accommodated in the slot 266 thus enabling vthe operator tomore accurately regulate the speed of the belt |92. t should beappreciated that the above shown means enables the operator to easilyand Vaccurately adjust the rate of speed or the conveyor 24 from eitherside of the blower mechanism and further enables the operator to quicklystop the rate of travel of the conveyor 2t in the event of stones orother objectionable material mingling with the ensilage being conveyedinto the blower' housing 26.

in the event of such stoppage, or for that matter any stoppage of theconveyor for any purpose, it will be noted that the adjustment of link262 is not disturbed, so that, when lever 256 is again manipulated tostart the conveyor, the previous rate of operation is immediatelyrestored and without any particular attention on the part of theoperator.

For maintaining the V-belt taut on the pulleys |66 and |96 irrespectiveof the pitch of the pulley |88, pulley wheels 266 and 276 are provided.Pulley wheel 266 is rotatably secured on a shaft 212 which is fixed on abracket 214 which in turn is secured by bolts or the like 276 to theblower housing 26. Pulley wheel 2'56 is rotatably secured to a pivot arm2l6 which is pivotally secured in a bracket 286 welded or the like tothe supplementary frame |76. The V-belt |92 travels around the pulley|66, under the pulley Wheel 216, and then around the variable pulley|66, and under the pulley wheel 266. To maintain the belt |62 taut aspring means 262 is secured, in the present instance, between the end ofthe pivotal arm 2l@ remote from bracket 266 and a finger' 266 secured asby welding or the like to the framework 48 of the frame I3. As will beclear the spring means 262 exerts a constant downward pressure on thepivotal arm 216, the wheel pulley '276 maintaining the belt |62 tautregardless of changes in the pitch of the variable pulley |66. Y

For discharging `the ensilage out the housing 26 the blower fan 26 isjournaled within the housing 20 on shaft 28 as already stated. The fan26 as best seen in Figs. 10 and l1, comprises in maintaining the flangesV2|6 and 226 in their proper operative position. If the operator shouldquentlyincreasing or decreasing the pitch` diameter of the pulley |88.If the operator wishes to stop the conveyor 24 suddenly without stoppingthe blower fan 26 he has merely rto pivot the lever 256 sufficientlyupwardly until the pivotal movement of the force exerted by the Vebelt|92 upon the flange 2|6is sufficient in yand of itself to pivot theforked arm 226 rearwardly kandthe lever 256 upwardly and rearwardlyuntil the V- belt |62V rests -upon the idler bearing 246. VWhen theV-belt rests uponV the'idler bearing 246 .the

link 262 caneasily be lengthenedior shortened by `connection 265|a -cfthe link 262 is suiliciently labove the pivot bolt 258 so that theupward the present instance, a hub 266 and a disk member 286 secured asby welding or the like to the Vhub portion 286. Fan arms or radial ribs266 are tangentially secured as by welding or the like to the peripheryof the hub portion 286 at spaced intervals thereon and extend outwardlytherefrom secured as by welding or the like to the face of the diskmember 288. The fan arms 266 are given a preferably trailing curvatureor bent at 26|, and provided at their ends with paddles 292. The paddles292 include in the present instance blower blades 296 which are securedby welding or the like to L-shaped brackets'296. The l.- shapedbracketsV 266 are secured as'by rivets or other suitable means 266adjacent the ends of thearins 290 and to' the disk member so as toposition the blades '294 adjacent the. ends of the arms 296.V In thisway a very substantial anchorage is provided lfor brackets 266, wherethe area forlwelding is relatively limited. The hub 266 is keyed orotherwise xed on the shaft 28 as by key means 366, Fig. 4, within thehousing 26. rAshas already been suggested, the conveyor ,'24 'deliversthe ensilage rearwardly to the feeder opening 22'which openssubstantially at the center of the fan 26. By' deliveringV the ensilageinto the center of the fan 26 the ensilage enters an area of lowvelocity, and as the ensilage is moved outwardly along the bent fan arms290 by centrifugal force, the velocity of the ensilage is graduallyincreased until it reaches the paddles 232 wherein attains its maximumvelocity and is thrown out the discharge port '|6.

To further regulate the stream ofmaterial iiowing into the blowerhousing the feed control beater 38 Fig. 4, of any conventional orsuitable design comprising, in the present instance, a shaft 302 Fig. 12having end members 304 and sides 306 enclosing the shaft 302 and securedas by rivets or the like to the end members 304,V is rotatably journaledin bearings 388 Fig. 1 carried by brackets 3|!) which are secured to theparallel support bars 80 and 92.

The leading edges of the sides 306 are serrated y 18 adjacent thesupport arm 92 and is connected as by a chain 316 to a sprocket 3|8non-rotatably secured on the shaft 304 of the beater 38 As j laterallyof the converying trough 18. already suggested, the rotation of thebeater 38 is governed by the rotation of the conveying means 24,` anychange in the rate of travel of the conveyor being accompanied by aproportionate change in the rate of rotation of the beater 38. It shouldalso be apparent that while the conveyor travels toward the bloweropening 22 so as to urge the ensilage in the feed hopper I6 toward theblower housing 20, the beater 38 rotates against the direction ofmovement of the conveyor so as to beat or level the stream of ensilagebeing carried to the blower fan 26 so as to prevent too large a mass ofensilage from entering the housing 20 at any one time. This mass orstream of material such as ensilage which enters the blower housing 20is controlled by regulating thevsize of the y feeder opening 22 bythembeater 38. As disclosed, the beater 38 is adjustable along theconfines` of parallel adjacent slots 320 Fig. 5,

formed in the trough 18 adjacent thelsupport I bars 90 and 92, thebearing brackets 3|0 being adjustable on the bars 90` and v82. Formaintaining the chain 3|6 taut regardless of the position of the beater38 on the bars 90 and 92,

an idler sprocket 322 is rotatably secured in a bracket 324 extendingforwardly from .the bar 92 and adjustable along .the confines of a slot326 formed in the bracket 324. To prevent the ensilage from being thrownout of the trough i 'I8 by the beater 38, a hood 328 is formed over thebeater 38 so as to urge the ensilage thrown upwardly by the beater 38,downwardly and back into the trough '|8.

For delivering the back feed, if any, of the conveyor 24 back into thereceiving trough 80, a bottom member 330 (Figs. 14 and 15) is secured asby rivets or the like to the frame member I |6 so as to enclose theforward return travel of the conveyor 24 around the floor member |60.

|68 of the shaft |10. During the Aoperation of this .blower theconveying means 24 travels forlwvardly on the oor members and, |62 andrearwardly on the bottom member 330, any back feed which may haveaccumulated below the floor member |62 of the trough 'i8 being urged bythe raddles |66 onto the bottom member 330 and consequently back uponthe oor member |60 by means of the end member 332. t should beappreciated that by providing a means whereby the back feed of theconveyor can be returned to the receiving trough much waste and manuallabor is eliminated, Y

In the operation of this blower, the machine is pulled to the operatingsite on the wheels 40. To ready the `machine for operation the wheels 40are removed, in a manner as previously described, so that the machinerests upon the ground on the frame I8, thereby lowering the feed hopperwith respect to the ground so that a dump truck or other unloading meanscan easily empty into the hopper. farms the cut ensilage is transportedfrom the field by means of dump trucks or dump trailers, it isadvantageous to pivot the receiving trough of the blower upwardly sothat the dump truck can be ldriven forwardly beyond the upwardlypivotedtrough and stopped shortly beyond the trough so that when the latter Vispivoted into an operative position the dump truck is positioned to beunloaded therein without requiring the `driver of the truck to drivebackwardly. Towards this end the drawbar 42, as previously described, isremoved. Whenit is desired to move the machine, as for instance when theblowing operation is finished,Y the drawbar 42 can be reinserted on themachine, along with the wheels 40, so that the machine can be pulled toa place of storage, the trough 80 being pivoted upwardly and held insuch position by the chain It is believed that the construction andoperation of the machine disclosed will be apparent from the foregoingdescription, and while for purposes of illustration we have disclosedbut a single `embodiment of our invention, it will be understood thatmany changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and we consider ourselves as entitledto all such changes and modifications which fall within the scope of theclaims hereto appended.

Having now described our invention and in what manner the same will beused, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: y

1. In a forage blower having a blower housing with an inlet, a feedhopper disposedso `as to be in feeding relationship with respect to saidinlet, conveyor means for conveying material from the feed hopper intothe blower housing, a feed control beater for regulating the now ofmaterial into said blower housing, a shaft extending into said blowerhousing, a blower fan secured to said shaft within said housing, meansfor rotating said shaft, a power transmitting means connected to saidconveyor for imparting rotary motion Forwardly an end member 332 issecured to the thereto, .said power transmitting means including a shaftextending in the same direction as the rst mentioned shaft andsubstantially parallel thereto, and a transmission means between saidpower transmitting means and said feed control beater for imparting aproportionate rotation of said feed control beater for rotating saidbeater against the flow of material into said Since on mostblowerhousing, the combination of a variable speed V-belt transmissioninterconnecting said flrst mentioned shaft to said power transmittingshaft, said V-belt transmission including a variable pitch pulleysecured on said first mentioned shaft, a pulley secured on said powertransmitting shaft and in power alignment with said variable pitchpulley, a V-belt drivingly connecting said pulleys, and means foreffecting varying pitch relationships of said variable pitch pulley forselectively driving said beater and said conveyor at a speed independentof the speed of rotation f of said blower fan.

nected to said conveyor and including a shaft extending in the samedirection as the first mentioned shaft and substantially parallelVthereto, and a V-belt transmission between said flrst mentioned shaftand the second mentioned shaft for drivingly connecting said firstmentioned shaft to said conveyor, the combination of a Variable pitchpulley including an axially fixed flange and an axially movable flange,said axiallyl movable flange being adjacent to and in working relationwith said axially fixed flange, a swingable arm rotatably secured withsaid movable flange and fulcrumed for fore-and-aft swinging movement foreffecting axial movement of said movable flange in response to swingingmovement of said arm, a rigid support, a lever swingably secured to saidsupport and swingable in the direction of swinging movement of said arm,said support having formed thereon adjacent the lever a limit stop, anda link pivotally secured between said lever and said swingable arm andso positioned with respect to said lever and said swingable arm thatwhen said lever is swung in one direction for axially shifting saidmovable flange adjacent said fixed flange, said link will abut saidlimit stop, the pivotal connection of said link 'to said lever passingbeyond a plane through the axes of the pivotal connection of said leverwith said s'upport and of said link with said swingable arm so that aforce exerted against said movableV flange tending to shift said movableflange away `from said nxed flange will tend to lock said link againstsaid limit stop.

3. In a Vforage blower' having a blower housing, a conveyor fordelivering material into said blower housing, a rotatable shaftextendingV into said blower housing, a blower fan secured on said vshaft within said housing, means for rotating said shaft, powertransmission means drivingly f connected to said conveyor and includinga'shaft extending in the same direction as the first men'- tioned shaftand substantially parallel thereto, and a V-belt transmission betweensaid rst mentioned shaft and the second mentioned shaft for drivinglyconnecting saidV first mentioned i shaft to said conveyor, thecombination of a variable pitch Vpulley including an axially fixedflange and an axially movable flange, `said axially movi able 'flangebeingadjacent to and in workingfre-vr lation with said axially fixedflange, a-swingable arm rotatably secured withrsaid movableilange l Y.and fulcrumed for fore-and-aft swinging movement for effecting axialmovementof saidmovable flange in response to swinging movement of saidarm, a.V Vrigid support,V a Ylever swingablyse-Y cured to said supportand swingable in the direction of swinging movement of said arm, saidsupport having formed thereon adjacent the lever a limit stop, and aturn buckle pivotally secured between said lever and said swingable armand so positioned with respect to said lever and said swingable arm thatwhen said lever is swung in one direction for axially shifting saidmovable flange adjacent said fixed flange, said turn buckle will abutsaid limit stop, the pivotal connection of said turn buckle to saidlever passing beyond a plane through the axes of' the pivotal connectionof said lever with said support and said turn buckle with said swingablearm so that a force exerted against said movable flange tending to shiftsaid movable flange away from said ilxed flange will tend to lock saidturn buckle against said limit stop.

4. ln a forage blower having a blower housing with an inlet, a feedhopper disposed so as to be in feeding relationship with respect to saidinlet, conveyor means for conveying material from the feed hopper intothe blower housing, a feed control beater for regulating the flow ofmaterial into said blower housing, means for moving said feed controlbeater into adjusted positions with respect to the conveying means forregulating the thickness of the apron of material delivered into saidblower housing, a shaft extending into said blower housing, a blower fansecured on said shaft within said housing, means for rotating saidshaft, a power transmitting means connected to said conveyor forimparting rotary motion thereto, said power transmitting means includinga shaft extending in the same direction as the first mentioned shaft andsubstantially parallel thereto, and a transmission means between saidpower transmitting means and said feed control beater for imparting aproportionate rotation to said feed control beater for rotating saidfeed control beater against the oW of material moving into said blowerhousing, the combination of a variable speed V-belt transmissionconnecting said first mentioned shaft to said power transmitting shaft,said V-belt transmission including a pulley secured on each of saidshafts in power alignment, at least one of said pulleys being of thevariable pitch type, a V-belt drivingly connecting said pulleys, andmeans for effecting varying pitch relationships of said variable pitchpulley. for regulating the rate of travel of said conveying means andsaid beater independently of the speed of rotation of said blower fan.

5. In a forage blower-having a blower housing, a. feed hopper, and meansfor conveying material from the feed hopper' into the blower housing,the combination of a feed control beater -for regulating the flow ofmaterial into said blower housing, means for moving said feed controlbeater into adjusted positions with respect to the conveying means forregulating the thickness of the apron vof material delivered into saidblower housing, a

shaft extending into said blower housing,a blower fan secured on saidshaft within said housing, means for rotating said shaft, a powertransmitting means for imparting rotary motion to the conveying means, avariable speed V-belt transmission interposed between sad shaft and saidpower transmitting means for regulating the rate of travel of saidconveying means independently of the speed of rotation of said blowerfan, a transmission means between said power transmitting means and saidfeed control beater'for impartingY a vproportionate rotation to saidfeed control beater for rotating said feed control beater against theflow of material into" said housing, a shaft extending into said blowerhousing, a fan fixed to said shaft and positioned for rotation withinsaid blower housing, means for Yrotating said shaft, power transmissionmeans drivingly connected to said conveyor and including a shaftextending in the same direction as said fan shaft and substantiallyparallel thereto,

and a V'-belt transmission Vbetween said fan shaft and the secondmentioned shaft for drivingly 4connecting said fan shaft to saidconveyor, the

combination of a variable pitch pulley including an axially fixed flangeand an axially movable flange, said axially movable nange being adjacentto and in working relation with said axially fixed flange, an upwardlyextending arm `rotatably secured with said axially movable flange andfulcrumed for effecting axial movement of said movable flange withrespect to, said fixed flange in response to fore-and-aft swingingmovement of said arm, a rigid support, and an overcentered'linkagearrangement carried by said support and connected to said swingable armupon said linkage system being moved into its over-centered position,said movable flange being moved adjacent said fixed flange so that theforce tending to axially move the movable flange maintains the linkagearrangement locked in its over-centered position.

'7. The invention dened in claim 6 further characterized by saidover-centered linkage including a longitudinally extensible linkconnect-I ed to said swingable arm, said movable flange; in response toswinging of said arm upon said over-centered linkage being moved intoits overcentered locked position, being capable of being moved intovarying axial positions with respect to said fixed ilange.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 further characterized by saidlongitudinally extensible t link being in the form of a turn buckle.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 further characterized by an axiallyfixed idler being positioned between said fixed flange and said axiallymovable flange.

10. A device of the character described, cornprising the combinationwith a hopper, of a conveyor operable along the bottom of the hopper, afan shaft extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor andpositioned adjacent the discharge end thereof, a fan on the shaftadjacent the end thereof in close proximity to the discharge end of saidconveyor, a blower housing enclosing the fan and having an inletdisposed so as to be in receiving relationship with respect to thedischarge end of said conveyor, a power transmission means connected tosaid conveyor for transmitting driving energy thereto, powertransmission means including a shaft laterally spaced from said blowerhousing and substantially parallel with said fan shaft, a pulley mountedon one of said shafts, said pulley including a flange fixed on said oneshaft and an axially movable flange slidably secured on said one shaftadjacent to and in working relation with said fixed flange, a secondpulley fixed on the other of said shafts and in power alignment with thefirst mentioned pulley, a V-belt driv-1 ingly trained around saidpulleys, and means carried by said blower housing and connected withsaidwmovable flange for holding said movable flange in varying pitchrelationship with respect to said ilxed flange whereby the speed ofrotation of the power transmission shaft can be adjusted independentlyof the speed of rotation of said fan shaft.

1 1. A device of the character described, comprising the combinationwith a hopper, of a conveyor operable along the bottom of the hopper, afan shaft extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor andpositioned adjacent the discharge end thereof, a fan on the'shaftadjacent the end thereof in vclose proximity to the discharge end ofsaid conveyor, a blower housing enclosing the fan and having an inletdisposed so as to be in receiving relationship with respect to thedischarge end of said conveyor, a power transmission means connected tosaid conveyor for transmitting driving energy thereto, said powertransmission means including a shaft laterally spaced from said blowerhousing and substantially parallel with said fan shaft, a driving pulleymounted on said fan shaft adjacent the other end' thereof, said drivingpulley including a ange fixed on said fan shaft and an axially movableflange slidably secured on said fan shaft adjacent to and in workingrelation with said fixed flange, a driven pulley ilxed on the secondmentioned shaft and in power receiving alignment with said drivingpulley, a V-belt drivingly trained around said pulleys, and meanscarried by said blower housing and connected with said movable flangefor holding said movable flange in varying pitch relationship withrespect to said flange whereby the speed of rotation of said drivenpulley can be changed with respect to the speed of rotation of said fanshaft. v

12. A device of the character described, comprising the `combinationwith a hopper, of a conveyor operable along the bottom of the hopper, afan shaft extending in the directionof travel of the conveyor andpositioned adjacent the discharge end thereof, a fan on the shaftadjacent the end thereof in close proximity to the discharge end of saidconveyor, a blower housing enclosing the fan and having an inletdisposed so as to be in receiving relationship with respect to thedischarge end of said conveyor, a power transmission means connected tosaid conveyor for transmitting driving energy thereto, said powertransmission means including a shaft laterally spaced from said blowerhousing and substantially parallel with said fan shaft, a driving pulleymounted on said fan shaft adjacent the other end thereof, said drivingpulley including a flange fixed on said fan shaft and an axially movableflange slidably secured on said fan shaft adjacent to and in vworkingrelation with said fixed flange, a driven pulley fixed on the secondmentioned shaft and in power receiving alignment withvv said drivingpulley, a V-belt drivingly trained around said pulleys, a swingable armrotatably connected to said movable flange and fulcrumed forfore-and-aft swinging movement, said movable flange being axiallyshifted on said fan shaft in response to swinging movement of said arm,a support on said blower housing,l a lever pivotally connected to saidsupport for foreand-aft swinging movement, a longitudinally extensiblelink pivotally interconnected between said lever and said swingable armfor causing being swung in one direction for axially shifting saidmovable flange into working relationship with respect to said xedflange, longitudinal adjustment of said link eifecting a change in thepitch of said driving pulley whereby the speed of rotation of saiddriven pulley can be changed With respect to the speed of rotation ofsaid fan shaft.

13. A device of the character described, comprising the combination witha hopper, of a conveyor operable along the bottom of the hopper, a fanshaft extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor andpositioned adjacent the discharge end thereof, a fan on the shaftadjacent the end thereof in close proximity to the discharge end of saidconveyor, a blower housing enclosing the fan and having an inletdisposed so as to be in receiving relationship with respect to thedischarge end of said conveyor, a power transmission means connected tosaid conveyor for transmitting driving energy thereto, said powertransmission means including a shaft laterally spaced from said blowerhousing and substantially parallel with said fan shaft, a driving pulleymounted on said fan shaft adjacent the other end thereof, said drivingpulley including a ange fixed on said fan shaft and an axially movableflange slidably secured on said fan shaft adjacent to and in workingrelation with said fixed flange, a driven pulley fixed on the secondmentioned shaft and in power receiving alignment with said drivingpulley, a V-belt drivingly trained around said pulleys, a swingable armrotatably connected to said movable ange and fulcrumed for fore-and-aftswinging movement, said movable ange being axially shifted on said fanshaft in response to swinging movementI of said arm, a support on saidblower housing, a lever pivotally connected to said support forforeand-aft swinging movement, said support having formed thereonadjacent said lever a limit stop, a longitudinally extensible linkpivotally secured between said lever and said swingable arm and sopositioned wtih respect to said lever and said swingable arm that whensaid lever is swung in one direction for axially shifting said movableange adjacent said fixed flange, said link will abut said limit stop,the pivotal connection of said link to said lever passing beyond a planethrough the axes of the pivotal connection of said lever with saidsupport and of said link with said swingable arm so that a force exertedby said V-belt against said movable flange tending to axially shift saidmovable ange away from said xed flange will tend to lock said linkagainst said limit stop.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 303,375 Huyett Aug. 12, 1884 445,043 Chandler Jan. 20, 18911,149,904 Foster Aug. 10, 1915 1,349,948 Echterling Aug. 17, 19201,490,404 Ronning et al. Apr. 15, 1924 1,611,291 Steege Dec. 21, 19261,688,345 Mursch Oct. 23, 1923 1,926,269 Easter Sept. 12, '19331,966,831 Oakes July 17, 1934 2,075,423 Bratschie Mar. 30, 19372,180,838 Saiberlich Nov. 2l, 1939 2,209,736 Livingston July 30, 19402,340,983 Pfeiffer et al Feb. 8, 1944 2,464,973 Freiden Mar. 22, 19492,542,250 Hill Feb. 20, 1951 2,569,191 Peterson Sept. 25, '1951

